Which to buy?

[Deereboy4960]

Stuck between a JD 5045E or a 3032E. Garden is about half an acre with some hunting lanes to keep mowed. I can get 5045s cheaper with only a few hours on them vs a 3032. The 4wd 32 would be nice and easier to handle around especially with a loader. Need opinions and thanks.

 

[MESSMAKER]

A 5045 is pretty big. Nothing wrong with that, but the 3032 is pretty light and would need some added weight to be handy with a loader. I think either would work. Each tractor would do some things better. Don't get all jammed up on the 4wd thing. A full size tractor with farm tires will go anywhere you have business going.

 

[Deereboy4960]

I wouldn't mind having the 32 without a loader. The main thing both tractors would be doing are on a 3 point tiller, bush hog, and a 1 row bed maker. I wouldn't have a loader on the 5045. Just that most 32's have a loader im sure I could use it to haul mulch for the wife. Nothing would be heavy lifting at all. My worry with the smaller tractors would be the ground clearance for cultivating plants.

 

[bigtiller]

If you can get a 5045E cheaper than a 3032E, that is the way to go. But I don't think a 5000 lb tractor can trade jobs with a 2000 lb tractor with any good success. Or visa versa.

Is looking for something in between an option?

 

[js5020]

Quite the apples to oranges quandary your into, sort of like comparing a lawn tractor to a compact tractor. The 3032e is a compact tractor and the 5045e is a full fledged ag tractor. If you have the space to operate the 5045e, don't mind the additional weight of the machine along with the fact the 5045 is a gear vs the 3032 being a hydro, and then likely needing wider implements to cover the additional width of the 5045, I'd roll with it, overkill x5 but what the heck!

I've considered going small ag tractor myself and skip the premium price of the compact machines.

 

[Deereboy4960]

Yea I like both. 5045 would be a little big as far as my usage of it and I'll be cultivating one row at the time. I'm not worried about over straining the bucket hat n the 32 because it would be light use at the most. I guess when it comes time to pull the trigger it will be on what deal is the best

 

[Deereboy4960]

What would be a good in between tractor? I been working on a farm since I was 12 and I am familiar with everything row crop but when it comes to the smaller stuff I'm kinda stuck

 

[MESSMAKER]

A 35 hp 3000lb 4wd tractor with a loader and hydo transmission is a pretty sweet machine. More hp is even better. Kubota,LC,Mahindra and Kioti hace models like this. Yanmar is another option. They seem to be getting good press on this forum. They made the smaller John Deere tractors for years.